Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-06-09
HE LOVES HER STILL.

'Ailia that will do for this morn
ing. | am not able to attend as ]
should Come here, my child"
1t was a low dark room in one of the
tenements with which the street was
crowded, and upon a narrow bed lay
an old man. His eyes were listlessly
closed. and his long white hair was
flung carelessly back from his high
pale forehead.
As Ailia approached, with her dear
violin grasped tightly in both her small
hands, his eyes opened, and one could
not help but notice the fire of genius
which shone in their dark luminous
depths.
mo one could render that better
than You have, little one,' he said
fondly, as he stroked lovingly back the
long dark curls.
II am glad you were pleased, grand
father" she said simply. They were
Italians, the old man and his grand
child.
That they had not always been poor,
was whispered around among the few
who had become acquainted with Sig
nor Paulo, as he was called. Some
said he was miscr and boarded gold
for the child, whose playing, though
she was so young, was marvellous.
But these surmses did not trouble the
old man as he went out and came in
among them.
There was really no mystery what
ever about his frequent departures, for
Signor Paulo was music-teachcr,
and, though not well paid, he had a
small class of scholars Since he had
left his native land he had never been
successful, but at last good fortune
seemed to be coming to him.
A wealthy Italian lady became in
tereSted in him, and learning that he
was of her own country, she engaged
him to take charge of her musical
SOirecS
Little Ailia, you shall have q new
dress and that fine book of Handel you
have wanted so long" he said glee-
fully to his granddaughter But the
next day he was stricken down by a
fever
For four weeks he had lain on his
sick bed, old and poor, and all alone,
save for the company of Ailia.
What was to be done?
Though still mere child-only thir-
tcen-Ailia had woman's mind. All
mconsciously the thoughts and feel
ings which prompted the mastery
strains Of the composers She 50 loved
had woven themselves into cyely fibre
of her own heart.
Kept as she had been, from early
childhood, from aught that might be
hurtful to her sweet innocence, Ailia
was still as trustful and unfearing of
harm as an infant.
So when the pressing thought came,
what should be done to obtain daily
food for her sick grandfather and her
self, she remembered with a glad
thrill his words in praise of her play
ing.
That afternoon. while the old man
slept little figure, wrapped in long
scarlet mantle, glided down the steep
stairs.
1t was a bright sunny afternoon,
and Ailia made her way to fashion
able street, and before stately brown
stone mansion she paused
CHANGING upward she saw in lace
draped window some ladies and
gentleman.
They were not noticing her Care
fully taking the violin from its case,
She laid her cheek softly down, and
with trembling finger, drew the bow
across the vibrating strings
The group above suddenly separated,
and the window gently opened.
why. mamma. exclaimed 4 young
voice, ''it's only poor little girl, and
she's playing that ain Of Cherubini's
I've been trying to learn for
month";
Hush. Nattier said another voice.
Don't talk amid such music.
Ailia fnislAd. and, lifting her dark
eyes towards the window. She waited.
By Joye! mother, there's genius in
that child playing and what "a little
beauty she is. Lets call her in.
Before his mother true type of
dignitied ari>tocratic English mairon,